Drive the Tundra and see how your wallet feels!
Curious what T-100 parts you had a tough time finding?
If you have the time you could go get the Cream of the Crop T-100 out there for less than the Tundra. Never forget your seat is guaranteed and kids adapt!

 

Thanks for all of the replies! Keep em coming

Curious what T-100 parts you had a tough time finding?

I had the vapor pressure sensor go out on mine and Toyota doesn't make it anymore. Luckily there was a great thread on here about that and I was able to find one at a junkyard from a Tacoma.

Bam has had a few threads about steering and things like that where it seemed he had to self fashion a fair amount of parts.

Seats and bumpers are another thing I have heard are next to impossible to find.

Maybe I am just being paranoid.

Tundras are definitely coming down in price - they're barely more than T100's

In Seattle there are two T100's for sale right around $5,000 with roughly 200,000 miles (they've been listed for a month now, so I think I could talk them down). In the same time I have kept an eye on those trucks at least five 2000-2002 Tundras with 150,00 - 180,000 miles have sold for $8,000 - $9,000. So in my crazy area it seems like the tundras are almost double.

If you go with the Access cab, you'll find that those rear suicide doors won't open very far when yer parked side by side in a parking lot.

Good point! My kids have freaked me out a few times when they climb out of the back and throw the door wide open. One time was next to a pretty nice Audi and I was sure they were going to put a huge dent in the door.

They do make the Access cab in the 5vzfe V6 configuration.
Examples...
https://www.carsforsale.com/2004-toyota-tundra-for-sale-C143085

Maybe I just need to be patient and wait for one, but they are so hard to find.

 

You'll find better market support with the Tundra. Stay with the 2004 Tundra as the transmissions fer the earlier years had a tendency to self grenade.

If you go with the Access cab, you'll find that those rear suicide doors won't open very far when yer parked side by side in a parking lot.

They do make the Access cab in the 5vzfe V6 configuration.
Examples...
https://www.carsforsale.com/2004-toyota-tundra-for-sale-C143085

 

The Tundra would seem to be the obvious choice because it is more modern and better equipped, especially for your circumstances. You can more easily find them on sale and there not as dated as the T-100. On the other hand, if the Tundra is going to hurt enough financially go with the T-100, a well equipped one doesn't fall short of a Tundra. In the end of it all its what you feel is best. I personally am biased towards the T-100 and would go that route myself. Let us know what you go with!

 

I've had both and the half doors are indeed a nice addition for the kids. I ended up selling mine for another T100 because I cannot drive an auto and the V8 was a gas hog by comparison (about 5mpg difference city/hwy). I looked and looked for 5VZ Tundras but they are rare birds in extracab 4WD form, especially with a 5spd (though I've seen them).

T100's are a better built rig IMO. You cannot go wrong with either, even with the V8 - its a great engine. Bam already mentioned the transmission weak point on the first few years (though this is not on all rigs). Tundras are definitely coming down in price - they're barely more than T100's

 

Keep in mind that Toyota had a recall for Frame Rust effecting the cross-members. That was 2000-2003 Tundras.
I guess you just need to do a Pros and Cons list comparing each side by side equipped the same( no extra doors on the T-100 of course) And wander over to the Tundra forum and ask them what kind of issues they've had with the year and mileage Tundra your willing to accept. My guess is they all have certain areas where they excel and others where they fall short.
The V-8 would be nice if you towed something regularly. Me, I'd have to really search because I won't give up my 5-Speed!

 

I test drove a 2006 Tundra yesterday and it rode really nice, very smooth and refined. My T100 is pretty bouncy and jittery. Do the Tundras have a better suspension or could a T100 with replaced/upgraqded suspension ride as well?

The Tundra was original suspension and had 248,000 miles on it. He was asking $7,500 for it. Kills me how expensive Tundras are here.

 

While the T-100 has a front torsion bar suspension, I believe the Tundra got a front coil suspension.

It wouldn't be worth the cost to change the front suspension of the T-100 unless you already had the parts, the skill, and the time to fine tune it.

 

I've been thinking about a similar upgrade, but I'm not sure it makes financial sense. Over the long run I think the T100 may actually hold better resale value and be more durable and cheaper to run. A suspension refresh ... new shocks, bushings, idler arm and tie rod ends, steering damper etc, plus upgrade to Tundra brakes, should make the two trucks drive pretty similarly (I think ... I have not done any of that to my T yet). My T is an automatic; I'd prefer a 5 speed but have no complaints about the 3.4 V6. And upgrading seats is pretty cheap also. To me, the most compelling aspect of a newer truck would be the rear doors. I just hate tipping my seats forward to get stuff in and out of the back. The neighbor I bought my T from replaced it with a gen 1 Tundra, and he does like it, but complains about the mpg as well.

 

Why not an '05 or '06 Tundra?? I believe Toyota starting putting a 5-speed auto in the 05's. The engine also gained some HP with variable valve timing too.

T-100's in good condition are about as rare as hen's teeth here in Central Ohio so when it comes time to look for another truck I'll be looking at an '05 or '06 Tundra.

Cheers,
-OPB

 

Why not an '05 or '06 Tundra??

The newer years tend to be more expensive, that's the only reason.

What I'd really like to do is buy a 2010 Tundra. There are a few for sale with 55,000 miles for $20k, which seem like a much better deal than one with 248,000 for $7,500, but I don't have $20k

 

1998 4WD auto in Phoenix fer $4800...
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/5305022616.html

 

1997 4WD auto in San Francisco area fer $2750. Not sure what's wrong with it though...
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/5305389661.html

 

1996 4WD auto in San Francisco area fer $7500!
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/5303546712.html

 

Thanks Bam!

Two of them are already gone

 

There's a pretty nice looking V6 4wd Tundra, access cab, in the Expedition Portal classifieds. It's in Denver. It's a 5 speed.

 

Interesting site! I just don't get it. That truck you referenced is a 2002 Tundra in great shape with some serious options. I got curious and looked up what KBB and NADA thought it'd be worth. So far as I'm concerned they don't have much crediblity anymore but to each their own. The owner is asking $12k OBO, V6,5 speed, lots of extras, new clutch,150k miles.
I listed everything the owner had and added what was visible in a lot of the photos he posted and also told KBB and Nada that it was in Excellent condition just to compare. KBB said Private Partyl $6250 and NADA was kind enough to make it to $9750 which seemed more realistic.

I guess it comes down to do your home work, it maybe cheaper to do some traveling even if you have to get the truck commercialy shipped home. Wild.
Here's the truck,http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/150162-2002-Tundra-v6-4WD-Manual-access-cab
This may or may not open if you don't registar.

 

T100's on my local Craigslist start around $2K ... but there's also one for $7900 and one for $8600. Both 2wd. And both of those have been there a while. I'm not sure if the commercial resale valuation companies (KBB, Edminds, NADA) always reflect the value of "desirable" vehicles like Toyota trucks. But some people equally exaggerate their asking prices.

 

Not a whole lot of detail here, but what do you think about this one? It's got 144,000 miles. Should I be concerned with that big of a lift? Just wondering if I am going to have driveshaft and axle issues?

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/5313614713.html

 

nice looking truck at a very fair price. I guess my question would be what type of lift is it (what all was done ) did he have it done by a shop or at home.
How long ago was it done. If you like the truck but find fault in the lift use that as leverage to get some bucks off the price and either correct any problems right away or drop it down to a more reasonable level. Some serious angle changes on that drive line if the lift is compremised. Additional Load on the front suspension too.Check tire wear as well. Also call me the "premere skeptic" truck's year,low mileage and what I think(I can really be wrong here) a non factory paint job, color doesn't look right, maybe my computer! But peoples lives change and it may have zero issues and he wants a new toy!

 

The Hubs

One thing that you cant do with a Tundra is swap out the front hubs for manual locking hubs - not easily anyway.

I dont know how the 4x4 switch works in the tundra but once the locking hubs are on a T100 and the ADD system is defeated going back and forth into and out of 4x4 is easy at any speed. This is important to me going from unplowed to plowed pavement and when its rained on the oily streets in St Louis.

 

technically. tundra is a successor of T100


according to Wikipedia


Publicly introduced in May 1999 as a 2000 model, the Tundra prototypes and "show trucks" were initially known as T150s. However, Ford and automotive journalists described the name was too close to the market-leader Ford F-150, and following a lawsuit by Ford, the production truck was renamed the Tundra.




Tundra prototypes and "show trucks" were initially known as T150s I wonder if I could get my hands on one of those badges lol.
and drive around in a Toyota T150 sr5

 

how many have actually seen this single din nav unit lol


http://www.oocities.org/baja/4300/t1502.html